Battery-strap mold



My 117, 1923?, v 462,364

T. E. JONES BATTERY STRAP- MOLD Filed March 1', 1922 2 Shasta-Sheet .1

5 6 W I 2'6 I 93-47 wmmm ' 31,452,364 T. E. JONES BATTERY STRAP mow Filed March 1. 1922 zsheets-she t 2 .-1 TTORNEY.

r provide Patented July 17, 1923.

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THOMAS E. JONES, OF PERU, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LLOYD lli. STUMP, OF PLYMOUTH, INDIANA.

. BATTERY-STRAP MGLD.

Application filed March 1, 1922. Serial No. 540,254.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. J ONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peru, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Battery-Strap Molds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention apperta-ins to certain improvements in mold devices or apparatus generally, and more particularly to a type of the same adapted for the rapid and accurate casting or molding of connector straps for electric storage batteries.

The principal object of the invention is to for a molding apparatus of the class described, and one of an extremely simplified and durable construction and arrangement of parts, wherein is embodied certain novel features of adjustment for the making of battery straps of different sizes with equal facility, and in a rapid and accurate manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an apparatus of the class set forth, and one wherein the casted or molded article is to be readily ejected from the mold casting in a single operation of a manually actuated mechanism, and is then delivered from its ejected position on the mold into a suitable receptacle or the like at one side thereof by the resetting of the parts ofsthe mold for a succeeding casting or molding operation, all in a manner whereby the necessity of handling the hot mold or article by the operator is avoided.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in a certain new, novel and useful construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the'appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the molding apparatus in its position ready for the pouring of the molten metal therein.

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof with the cast or ingate of the same moved to its inoperative or open position, and showing the interior of themold body and the plungers therein for affecting the ejectment of a strap passing therefrom,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly broken away to show the manner of securing one of the end blocks in position on the mold base,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line l of Fig. l,-

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a similar section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the mold base per se,

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section through one of the mold blocks, and showing the inclined wall formation of the mold cavity and core piece thereof, and,

Fig. 9 is a face view of one of the mold block inserts.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, the numeral 10 indicates the base of the mold, which is formed of a substantially oblong block or body of metal having a relatively wide channel-way formed inits upper face, the opposite side walls of the channelway being under cut to provide bevelled guideways 11 for the sliding engagement therewith of similarly bevelled guideways 12 formed in the opposite side walls of a pair of mold blocks 13 and 1 1. After these mold blocks 13 and 1 1 have been positioned inwardly of the opposite ends of the base 10, end blocks 15 and 16, also provided with bevelled guideways 12 are slid into the channelway from'the opposite ends thereof and are secured, by means of tapered pins or the like 17 in position with their outer end faces flush in the plane of the end faces of the base 10, so that the mold blocks 13 and 1 1 are retained between the same during the casting or molding operations.

The mold block 1 1, to be hereinafter designated the tail block of the mold, is preferably abutted against the end block 16 co1nplemental thereto at all times, while the mold block 13, to be hereinafter designated as the head block, is adjustablewith respect to the tail block it and between the same and the end block 15. The upper faces of the head and tail blocks 13 and 11 are identically formed to provide casting or molding cavities, one cooperating with the other, and each of these cavities consist of a circular recess 19, 20, formed inwardly from the opposed edges of the blocks 13 and 14, and slotted openings 19 and 20, respectively, leading outwardly of the circular recesses 19 and 20 through the opposed edge portions of the blocks, one in alinement with the other. Formed within the circular cavities or recesses 19 and 20 of the mold blocks 13 and 14, and arranged concentrically thereof, are cylindrical studs 21, constituting cores for the forming of the usual circular terminal engaging recesses or sockets in the cast or molded battery straps. It is to be here noted, that the side walls of the cavity portions 19, 19, 20 and 20 and 25, of the mold blocks 13 and 14 and the insert blocks 24, respectively, are upwardly and outwardly inclined, while the core studs 21, disposed within the circular cavities 19, 20, of the mold blocks 13 and 14 are up wardly and inwardly tapered whereby the complemental walls of the casted or molded article will be correspondingly formed, and the removal of the article, from the mold cavities, when sufficiently cool, will be'facilitated.

To cast or mold the smallest of the'battery straps, as contemplated for the apparatus, the head block 13 will be moved along the guideways 12 to bring its inner end into abutting relation with the opposed inner end of the tail block 14, when the former will be clamped in such position by a clamp screw 22,.Which is threaded inwardly of the end block 15, in the plane of the longitudinal center of the base l0 for the purpose, and

this screw is provided at its outer end with a knurled fingerpiece 23 for its proper manipulation. To affect the casting or molding of the battery straps of larger sizes, insert mold blocks 24, of varying widths, are to be interposed between the opposed end faces of the head and tail blocks 13 and 14, one interchangeable for the other, and each of theseinserts will have their upper faces formed with a transversely extending slotway 25 adapted to aline with the slotted openings 19, 20, of the mold blocks 13 and 14. These insert mold blocks 24 may be placed in position by removing the end block 15, and withdrawing the head block 13 from the channel-guides 12, when the desired insert block 24 will he slid inwardly of the latter and into abutting relation with the inner end of the tail block 11-. after which the head block 13 and the end block 15 will be replaced in their normally operative positions. The end block15 will now he fastened'in place by securing pins 17. and the clamp screw 22 will nowbe manipulated to .tighten up againstthe head block 13 and force the same, together with the insert block 24, into abutting; relation with respect to each other and to the tail block 14.

Normally overlying the upper faces of the mold blocks 13 and 14, and the end blocks 15 and 16, is an ingate consisting of an oblong metal plate 26 having a centrally disposed pouring hole 27 therein normally registering with an intermediate portion of the casting or molding cavities in the mold blocks 13 and 14. T his ingate 26 is preferably pivoted at one end to a pivot pin 28 rising'from the upper face of the end block 16, whereby the same maybe swung to and from its operative position over the mold blocks 13 and 14, a suitable handle 29 being provided at its opposite end to facilitate the manipulation of the same for such pur-v pose. The pouring hole 27 is preferably formed in the bottom of an inwardly tapered depression or concavity 26, formed at the center of the upper face of the ingate26, and the wall of this hole is arranged to effect a shearing off of the excess metal remaining in the depression or concavity 26, after the pouring of the metal in molten state therethrough and into the mold cavity proper, which is readily accomplished by swinging the ingate outwardly on its pivot 28, after the mold, has been allowed to cool, and the cast metal within the same has solidified suiliciently to be undisturbed by said shearing action for the removal of the excess or surplus metal therefrom as aforesaid. The pivot pin 28 is preferably headed as at 30 to retain thereon a coiled spring 31, which acts to tension the ingate 26' against free swinging movements from either of its on erative or inoperative positions. To assure of the ingate 26 being mold blocks 13 and 14 for the accurate registering of the pouring hole 27 thereof with the alined portions of the mold block cavities, a stop pinior the like 32 is passed downwardly of an opening formed in the base 10 at one side of the end block 15, and is formed to provide an upper headed end portion disposed in the path of the swinging move- .ment of the ingate 26. and to be abutted by the same when moved to its operativepopositioned over the I sition. the adjacent edge of the latter engag-v mold base 10, and spaced apart on the longitudinal center and equidistantly inward from the opposite ends thereof. are a pair of guide pins or rods 34 on which is slidably mounted a crosshead, which consists of a bar portion 35 being disposed in parallel relation to the under face ofthe base 10,

and having angularly disposed feet portions 36 formed at its opposite end and engaged over the rod 34, the lower free ends of each ,of the latter being threaded to receive therethereof being spaced apart one from the other, and the pairs of larger openings 40 being spaced apart to either side of the transverse center of the mold base 10, while the pairs of small openings 41 are spaced outwardly at the opposite sides of each pair of the larger openings 40, and all of the several pairs of openings 40 and 41 are 'dis posed on the longitudinal center of the base 10 and in line with the longitudinal center of th bar 35 of the cross head. Similarly, the head and tail mold blocks 13 and 14 are each formed to provide large openings 42 opening upwardly of the same and into the bottom wall of the circular mold cavities thereof at the inner side of the core studs 21 therein, and small openings 43 in a similar manner at the opposite or other sides of the latter, and these openings 42 and 43 are adapted to be registered with correspondingly sized openings of th pairs of openings 40 and 41 of the base 10, according to the adjustment of the mold blocks 13 and 14 for the casting or molding of a particular size of battery strap. When the mold blocks 13 and 14 have been clamped in adjusted position for a desired casting or molding operation, a pair of larger size plungers 44 will be positioned within the registering pair of the larger openings of the base 10 and th mold blocks 13 and 14, and a pair of small size plungers 45.similarly within the registering pairs of small openings, when the lower ends of the several plungers 44 and 45 will rest on the upper face of the cross bar 35 of the cross head, while their upper ends will be disposed flush in the plane of the bottomwalls of the molding cavities ofthe mold bloc rs 13 and 14. After the casting operation, and the metal of a molded strap has cooled down to a desired degree, the cross head is to be forced upwardly in a manner to cause the plungers 44 and'45 to eject the strap upwardly of the mold cavity, and for such purpose a hand lever 46 is pivoted at a point intermediate its opposite ends on a pivot pin 47 carried by a bifurcated lug 48, depending from the under side of the mold. base 10, and has its inner end engaged under the cross bar 35,

so that by grasping the outer end of handle portion 49 of the lever, and pressing downwardly thereof, when the inner end thereof will force the cross head upwardly against the tension of the coiled springs 39, as hereinbefore indicated.

In the practical use of the mold device or apparatus, the same is preferably supported in desired horizontal position for operation by means of a bar 50, which is secured at one end to one side of the mold base 10, by means of screws or the like 51, and which has its other end projecting beyond the adjacent end of the base for clamping engagement between the jaws of an ordinary benchvise (not shown). With the mold blocks 13 and 14 in position, and an insert block interposed therebetween, if it is desired to cast a battery strap of a greater length than that produced in the use of the blocks 13v and 14 alone, the several. larger and smaller plungers 44 and 45 are dropped into the registering openings of the head and tail blocks 13 and 14 and the base 10, and the ingate 26 is then swung inwardly to its operative position over the latter and is secured under the head of the lock or stop pin 32, when the device or apparatus will be ready for the casting or molding operation. The molten. metal, such as lead or the like, is now poured into the pouring hole 27 and until the mold cavity as a whole is filled, aswill be indicated by an excess or surplus of the metal filling or partially filling the upper concave portion of the pouring hole, and thereafter the mold. is allowed to cool down. When it is desired to remove the strap casting from the mold, the lock pin 32 is loosened sufficiently to allow the ingate 26 to be swung outwardly on its pivot 28, during which swinging movementthe ,wall of the opening of the pouring hole in the same will, shear off from the strap casting the excess or suplus metal remaining in the concavity 26, which action eliminates the. necessity of filing or otherwise smoothing down the top surface of the strap casting after its removal from the mold. The strap casting may now be ejected from the mold cavity, by pressing down on the hand lever 49, which action. forces the cross head 35 and the plungers' are 44 and 45 actuated thereby in an upward I described and illustrated herein in specific formed with undercut walls, mold bodies cooperating one with the other and mounted on said base and further extended into said channel and undercut walls, blocks mounted. on the base and extended into said channels and further into said undercut walls and having said bodies interposed therebetween, means carried by one of the blocks for clamping said mold bodies in operative po sition, and an ingate pivoted on the other of said blocksand movable to and from 0perative position over said mold bodies.

2. In a molding apparatus, a base having its upper face provided with a channel way formed with undercut walls, mold bodies cooperating one with the other and mounted on said base and further extended into said channels and undercut walls, blocks mount ed on the base and extended into said channels and further into said undercut walls and having said bodies interposed therebetween, means carried by one of the blocks for clamping said mold bodies in operative position, an ingate pivoted on the other off said blocks and movable to and from operative position over said. mold bodies, an expansible and contractile element bearing against the pivoted end of said ingate, and means carried by that end block provided with the clamping means for retaining said ingate in operative position. with respect to said mold bodies.

In a molding apparatus, va base,'apertured mold bodies cooperating one with the other and mounted .on and extending into the base, said base and bodies having cooperating means for connecting the bodies to the base, end blocks mounted in said base and having said bodies interposed therebe tween, said base and end blocks having cooperating means for connecting them to gether, said base formed with a plurality of openings adapted to register with certain of the o )enin 's in said bodies 'verticallv disb 7 u posed casting removing element-s extending through the registering openings and further closing the openings in said bodies, a spring controlled inverted yoke-shaped member suspended from said base and bearing a ainst the lower ends of said elements, an ingate pivoted to one of said end blocks and movable to and from operative position over said mold bodies, means carried by the other of said end blocks for maintaining spring operating means for connecting them together, said base formed with a plurality of openings adapted to register with certain of the openings in said bodies, vertically disposed casting removing elements extending through the registering openings and further closing the openings in said bodies, a spring controlled inverted yokeshaped member suspended from said base and bearing against the lower ends of said elements, an ingate-pivotedto one of said endblocks and movable to and from operative position over said mold bodies, means carried by the other of said end blocks for maintaining said ingate in operative posi tion, shittable means suspended from said base and engageablewith said member for shifting said elements to remove the casting from the mold bodies, and means ex tending through said end blocks and engaging in the base-for fixedly securing said end blocks in position.

o. In a molding apparatus. a base. apertured mold bodies cooperating one with the other and mounted on and extending into the base, said base and bodies having coopcrating means for connecting the bodies to the base, end'blocks mounted in said base and having said bodies interposed 'thcrebe through the registering openingsand an ther closing the openings in said bodies, a controlled inverted. yoke-shaped member suspended from said base and bearing'against the lowerends'of said elements, an ingatepivoted to one of'said end blocks and movable to and from operative position over said mold bodies, means carried by the other of said end blocks for maintaininn said ingate in operative position, shiftable ineans'suspended from said base and engageable with said member for shifting said elements to remove the casting from the mold bodies, means extending through said end blocks and engaging in the base for fixedly securing said end blocks in position, and means carried by that end. block provided with means for retaining the ingate in operative position for clamping said mold bodies in operative position.

6. In a molding apparatus, a base, apertured mold bodies cooperating one with the other and mounted on and extending into the base, said base and bodies having cooperating means for connecting the bodies to the base, end blocks mounted in said base and having said bodies interposed therebetween, said base and end blocks having cooperating means for connecting them together, said base formed with a plurality of openings adapted to register with certain of the openings in said bodies, vertically disposed casting removing elements extending through the registering openings and further closing the openings in said bodies, a spring controlled inverted yoke-shaped member suspended from said base and bearing against the lower ends of said elements, an ingate pivoted to one of said end blocks and movable to and from operative position over said mold bodies. means carried by the other of said end blocks for maintaining said ingate in operative position, shiftable means suspended from said base and engagcable with said member for shifting said elements to remove the casting from the mold bodies, and an expansible element bearing on the pivoted end of said ingate.

7. In a molding apparatus, a base, apertured mold bodies cooperating one with the other and mounted on and extending into the base, said base and bodies having cooperating means for connecting the bodies to the base, end blocks mounted in said base and having said bodies interposed therebetween, said base and end blocks having cooperating means for connecting them together, said base formed with a plurality of openings adapted to register with certain of the openings in said bodies, vertically disposed casting removing elements extending through the registering openings and further closing the openings in said bodies, a spring controlled inverted yokeshaped member suspended from said base and bearing against the lower ends of said elements, an ingate pivoted to one of said end blocks and movable to and from operative position. over said mold bodies, means carried by the other of said end blocks for maintaining said ingate in operative position, shiftable means suspended from said base and engageable with said member for shifting said elements to remove the casting from the mold bodies, means extending through said end blocks and engaging in the base for fixedly securing said end blocks in position, and an expansible element bearing on the pivoted end of said ingate.

In testimony whereof, I airix my signature hereto.

THOMAS E. Jones. 

